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第80章

iliad10-第80章

小说: iliad10 字数: 每页4000字

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As he spoke he put courage into the heart of the shepherd of his
people; and he strode in full armour among the ranks of the
foremost fighters。 Nor did the son of Anchises escape the notice
of white…armed Juno; as he went forth into the throng to meet
Achilles。 She called the gods about her; and said; 〃Look to it;
you two; Neptune and Minerva; and consider how this shall be;
Phoebus Apollo has been sending Aeneas clad in full armour to
fight Achilles。 Shall we turn him back at once; or shall one of
us stand by Achilles and endow him with strength so that his
heart fail not; and he may learn that the chiefs of the immortals
are on his side; while the others who have all along been
defending the Trojans are but vain helpers? Let us all e down
from Olympus and join in the fight; that this day he may take no
hurt at the hands of the Trojans。 Hereafter let him suffer
whatever fate may have spun out for him when he was begotten and
his mother bore him。 If Achilles be not thus assured by the voice
of a god; he may e to fear presently when one of us meets him
in battle; for the gods are terrible if they are seen face to
face。〃

Neptune lord of the earthquake answered her saying; 〃Juno;
restrain your fury; it is not well; I am not in favour of forcing
the other gods to fight us; for the advantage is too greatly on
our own side; let us take our places on some hill out of the
beaten track; and let mortals fight it out among themselves。 If
Mars or Phoebus Apollo begin fighting; or keep Achilles in check
so that he cannot fight; we too; will at once raise the cry of
battle; and in that case they will soon leave the field and go
back vanquished to Olympus among the other gods。〃

With these words the dark…haired god led the way to the high
earth…barrow of Hercules; built round solid masonry; and made by
the Trojans and Pallas Minerva for him fly to when the
sea…monster was chasing him from the shore on to the plain。 Here
Neptune and those that were with him took their seats; wrapped in
a thick cloud of darkness; but the other gods seated themselves
on the brow of Callicolone round you; O Phoebus; and Mars the
waster of cities。

Thus did the gods sit apart and form their plans; but neither
side was willing to begin battle with the other; and Jove from
his seat on high was in mand over them all。 Meanwhile the
whole plain was alive with men and horses; and blazing with the
gleam of armour。 The earth rang again under the tramp of their
feet as they rushed towards each other; and two champions; by far
the foremost of them all; met between the hosts to fightto wit;
Aeneas son of Anchises; and noble Achilles。

Aeneas was first to stride forward in attack; his doughty helmet
tossing defiance as he came on。 He held his strong shield before
his breast; and brandished his bronze spear。 The son of Peleus
from the other side sprang forth to meet him; like some fierce
lion that the whole country…side has met to hunt and killat
first he bodes no ill; but when some daring youth has struck him
with a spear; he crouches openmouthed; his jaws foam; he roars
with fury; he lashes his tail from side to side about his ribs
and loins; and glares as he springs straight before him; to find
out whether he is to slay; or be slain among the foremost of his
foeseven with such fury did Achilles burn to spring upon
Aeneas。

When they were now close up with one another Achilles was first
to speak。 〃Aeneas;〃 said he; 〃why do you stand thus out before
the host to fight me? Is it that you hope to reign over the
Trojans in the seat of Priam? Nay; though you kill me Priam will
not hand his kingdom over to you。 He is a man of sound judgement;
and he has sons of his own。 Or have the Trojans been allotting
you a demesne of passing richness; fair with orchard lawns and
corn lands; if you should slay me? This you shall hardly do。 I
have disfited you once already。 Have you forgotten how when
you were alone I chased you from your herds helter…skelter down
the slopes of Ida? You did not turn round to look behind you; you
took refuge in Lyrnessus; but I attacked the city; and with the
help of Minerva and father Jove I sacked it and carried its women
into captivity; though Jove and the other gods rescued you。 You
think they will protect you now; but they will not do so;
therefore I say go back into the host; and do not face me; or you
will rue it。 Even a fool may be wise after the event。〃

Then Aeneas answered; 〃Son of Peleus; think not that your words
can scare me as though I were a child。 I too; if I will; can brag
and talk unseemly。 We know one another's race and parentage as
matters of mon fame; though neither have you ever seen my
parents nor I yours。 Men say that you are son to noble Peleus;
and that your mother is Thetis; fair…haired daughter of the sea。
I have noble Anchises for my father; and Venus for my mother; the
parents of one or other of us shall this day mourn a son; for it
will be more than silly talk that shall part us when the fight is
over。 Learn; then; my lineage if you willand it is known to
many。

〃In the beginning Dardanus was the son of Jove; and founded
Dardania; for Ilius was not yet stablished on the plain for men
to dwell in; and her people still abode on the spurs of
many…fountained Ida。 Dardanus had a son; king Erichthonius; who
was wealthiest of all men living; he had three thousand mares
that fed by the water…meadows; they and their foals with them。
Boreas was enamoured of them as they were feeding; and covered
them in the semblance of a dark…maned stallion。 Twelve filly
foals did they conceive and bear him; and these; as they sped
over the rich plain; would go bounding on over the ripe ears of
corn and not break them; or again when they would disport
themselves on the broad back of Ocean they could gallop on the
crest of a breaker。 Erichthonius begat Tros; king of the Trojans;
and Tros had three noble sons; Ilus; Assaracus; and Ganymede who
was eliest of mortal men; wherefore the gods carried him off
to be Jove's cupbearer; for his beauty's sake; that he might
dwell among the immortals。 Ilus begat Laomedon; and Laomedon
begat Tithonus; Priam; Lampus; Clytius; and Hiketaon of the stock
of Mars。 But Assaracus was father to Capys; and Capys to
Anchises; who was my father; while Hector is son to Priam。

〃Such do I declare my blood and lineage; but as for valour; Jove
gives it or takes it as he will; for he is lord of all。 And now
let there be no more of this prating in mid…battle as though we
were children。 We could fling taunts without end at one another;
a hundred…oared galley would not hold them。 The tongue can run
all whithers and talk all wise; it can go here and there; and as
a man says; so shall he be gainsaid。 What is the use of our
bandying hard like women who when they fall foul of one another
go out and wrangle in the streets; one half true and the other
lies; as rage inspires them? No words of yours shall turn me now
that I am fain to fighttherefore let us make trial of one
another with our spears。〃

As he spoke he drove his spear at the great and terrible shield
of Achilles; which rang out as the point struck it。 The son of
Peleus held the shield before him with his strong hand; and he
was afraid; for he deemed that Aeneas's spear would go through it
quite easily; not reflecting that the god's glorious gifts were
little likely to yield before the blows of mortal men; and indeed
Aeneas's spear did not pierce the shield; for the layer of gold;
gift of the god; stayed the point。 It went through two layers;
but the god had made the shield in five; two of bronze; the two
innermost ones of tin; and one of gold; it was in this that the
spear was stayed。

Achilles in his turn threw; and struck the round shield of Aeneas
at the very edge; where the bronze was thinnest; the spear of
Pelian ash went clean through; and the shield rang under the
blow; Aeneas was afraid; and crouched backwards; holding the
shield away from him; the spear; however; flew over his back; and
stuck quivering in the ground; after having gone through both
circles of the sheltering shield。 Aeneas though he had avoided
the spear; stood still; blinded

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